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Combivent® Metered Aerosol (ipratropium bromide and salbutamol
sulphate) Inhaler to be discontinued
A commonly
used inhaler for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease (COPD) will no longer be available from the middle of this
year, in accordance with the Department of Health’s implementation
of the European Commission’s strategy to phase-out products
containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
In the North West there are currently 180,000 people diagnosed with
COPD, and the region has a high proportion of people at risk of
future hospital admission with COPD in the UK. Combivent® Metered
Aerosol Inhaler, a combination of 2 medicines which help to keep the
airways open4 allowing people with COPD to breathe more easily, is
used nationally by a 5th of all COPD patients, many of whom live in
the North West. Taken as 2 puffs 4 times a day, it helps to control
the symptoms of COPD.
Patients using the inhaler should not worry, as there are other
effective treatments available. However, urgent reviews are
important to avoid disruption to patients’ treatment. Health experts
say that it is vital for patients to talk to their healthcare
professional to find out which medicine is best for them, once the
Combivent® Inhaler is no longer available.
Dr Noemi Eiser, Honorary Medical Director of the British Lung
Foundation (BLF) says:- “COPD is a common disease which
affects a significant number of people in the North West. People
with COPD who are currently using inhalers should check with their
doctor or nurse about changing to a CFC-free inhaler. Changing is
safe and easy, so it is good news for the patient and for the
environment. It is also an opportunity for people with COPD to check
their inhaler technique, to make sure they are using it properly.”
COPD, usually caused by smoking, gets progressively worse over time
and patients are often unaware of the simple steps they can take to
relieve their symptoms that often include breathlessness, wheezing
and what some may identify as ‘smokers cough’.
The BLF Helpline (0845 8 50 50 20) provides information and support
for anyone affected by lung disease.
NORTH West Air Ambulance Service
NORTH West Air
Ambulance Service is getting its campaign to launch a second
helicopter off to a ‘flying’ start at this year’s Cheshire
County Show.
The life-saving service has committed to a 2nd helicopter to cover
Cheshire and South Manchester, but now needs to raise £3.3million a
year to keep the 2 aircrafts airborne for 1 year.
As the Air Ambulance offers a life-line to rural and agricultural
areas it has chosen the Cheshire County Show on Tuesday and
Wednesday, June 17 and 18, as the 1st event to launch its campaign
for funding to support its second helicopter.
Currently there is 1 Air Ambulance helicopter, based at Blackpool
Airport, serving 7.5 million people across a 5,500 square mile area
of Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cumbria.
Community Fundraiser for North West Air Ambulance Emily Taylor
said:- “It is hoped that visitors to this years Cheshire Show
will lend their support to the service, which is a registered
charity and receives no mainstream funding, relying solely on
donations from the public to stay up and running. Each year we
are called out to a range of emergencies in rural areas of Cheshire,
including farming, horse riding and walking accidents, sporting
injuries and road traffic incidents so hopefully everyone will be
really supportive of our campaign to launch a new air ambulance that
will benefit the people of Cheshire.” It is hoped that enough funding will have been raised to have a
second helicopter operational by August of this year. The Cheshire County
Show will take place at the Tabley Showground near Knutsford.
Advanced tickets are available 24-7 by calling 0845 1249822 or from
most Cheshire County Council libraries. Advanced tickets are
priced £11 for adults, senior citizens £8.50, children £5 and £28
for a family of two adults and two children, and children aged under
five are free. Show membership is available at £35 for first year
members and £30 for repeat membership. For more information go
online.
Sainsbury's set to help Southport Lifeboat Fund Raising over 2008
SOUTHPORT'S
Sainsbury's has announced that Southport Off Shore Rescue Trust will
be this years designated charity. The charity is trying to
raise funds to build a new Lifeboat station and this support will be
very much welcomed by them. To start of the years fundraising
events by the staff at the superstore, they held a jumble sale on
Sunday 25 July 2008 in their car park. |
CREATING A SMARTER, GREENER WORKING BRITAIN
THE Work Wise
UK Summit at the QEII Conference Centre in London. Hosted by Declan
Curry, BBC One Breakfast’s business presenter, it included speeches
from the Rt Hon. Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs, Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC
and Edmund King, president of the Automobile Association.
The theme of this, the 3rd Work Wise UK Summit, was the
environmental impacts of work and how the wider adoption of smarter
working practices could make a major contribution to solving the
environmental catastrophe predicted by many.
Dr Richard Betts, head of climate impacts at the Met Office Hadley
Centre, explained the damage human activities are causing to the
planet providing the unequivocal reason for the wider adoption of
smarter working practices. He said:- "The world is definitely
getting warmer, and it is very likely that this is due to our
ever-increasing emissions of greenhouse gases. To slow down climate
change, we will need to reduce our emissions - smarter working could
make an important contribution to this."
David Lennan, chairman of Work Wise UK, said;- “More and more
organisations are realising that they have a moral and social
obligation to consider, and mitigate, their activities’ impact upon
the environment in which they operate. There are a myriad of
ways in which organisations can introduce smarter working practices,
even where it is not immediately apparent. There are various forms
of smarter working, including regular or occasional home working,
various forms of flexible working, remote and mobile working.”
One of the key benefits of smarter working is that it reduces the
overall need to travel. Commenting, Edmund King, AA president said:-
“300 AA employees are saving 90,000 litres of fuel or 620,000
miles commuting each year by working from home. The AA and our
employees benefit in many ways. Homeworkers can do a split shift
which covers the busiest times on the road in the morning and
evening peak. In transport terms home working cuts out the
commute, reduces congestion and carbon emissions. Hopefully other
companies will follow the AA lead to put more workers on the
superhighway rather than the actual highway now that the technology
is much more affordable.”
Smarter working also has a significant impact upon public transport
systems. Transport for London is a Work Wise UK strategic partner
and recognises its importance in managing demand on the transport
network in London.
Ben Plowden, director, smarter travel unit, at Transport for London
explained:- “Since Transport for London was created in 2000,
Londoners have started to change the way that they travel, with the
capital becoming the only major world city to have achieved a shift
away from the use of cars toward public transport, walking and
cycling. Our smarter travel programmes have helped to show Londoners
what can be achieved by acting locally, underpinning the message
that we can all do something to tackle congestion and climate
change. Smarter working is a concept that fits perfectly with
smarter travel programmes. By offering people flexibility in when
and where they work, as well as how they get there, we can all
benefit – economically, environmentally and socially.”
BT has been pioneering the introduction of smarter working practices
for over a decade, but it is not only the environment that has been
benefiting. BT currently has 13,590 registered homeworkers, which
has resulted in accommodation savings of £40 million per year. (£350
million to date). Smarter working has resulted in an average of 15%
and up to 31% productivity gains, with sick absence reduced to 1% on
average and staff retention significantly improved, 99% returnees
from maternity leave versus the national average of 70%.
Apart from the environmental benefits and the cost saving and better
productivity for businesses, staff and employees themselves are
major benefactors from the introduction of smarter working
practices. TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:- “Real
progress has been made in persuading more employers to offer
innovative flexible working practices. Those employers that take the
plunge report back benefits to their business, including improved
productivity, reduced costs, and better staff recruitment, retention
and motivation.
What a shame then that all we ever seem to hear from the business
lobby is continued negativity towards flexible working. Last week’s
all-so-predictable bleating around extending the right to request
was a case in point.
But despite the good news on flexible working, over the last year
there have been worrying signs of a long hours cultural renaissance.
An increasing number of employees are expected to work more than 48
hours a week and put in extra hours for free. We must all work to
ensure that these are temporary blips and not developing trends.
As we enter a period of economic uncertainty, it’s tempting for
employers to retreat from innovative working practices and instead
work existing staff harder and longer. But the need for increased
productivity is greater than ever, which makes this the perfect time
for companies to introduce smarter working practices. Those
employers who are keen to make flexible working work for their
business and staff will find willing accomplices in trade unions.” |
